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J. T. RIGHARDS.-

GOPFIN. No.. 333.255. Patented Dec, 29,. 1885.

WITNEE 5135: INVE'NIBR uMMQw.BW-q BYL ATTURNEYEQ NirE v JOHN T. RICHARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHICAGO COFFIN COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 333255. dated December 29,1885. Application filed Septcin'berv, 1884. Serial No. 144.182. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. RIcHARDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coffins, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a View in vertical longitudinal section of a coffin embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a plan View with portions removed and broken away for better illustration of subjacent parts.

In the manufacture of the old style of coffins having inclined lids it has heretofore been proposed to form a lid of two separate sections, the forward section, or that above the head and shoulders of the corpse, being re movably held in place by means of dowels that entered the fixed section and catches that engaged with the sides of the cofn. This construction is objectionable, however, for the reason that in moving the coffin the edges of the removable section of the lid which eX-.

tend to the body of the coffin are liablc to be struck and the dowels or catches to be loosened or displaced. In constructing burialcaskets, also, the lids, formed usually of one piece, have been provided with a removable panel having a rear beveled edge, which engaged with the correspondingly-beveled edge of the main portion of the lid, and having around its upper edge' a separate molding, which served to prevent the panel from dropping through the opening of thelid. This last Construction, however, is not well suited to the nanufacture ofwooden coffins,particularly where cheapness is a desideratum, since the raised lid, being of a single piece, would require to be made of Very thick and expensive lumber, and the molding around the edge of the removable panel would increase the cost, and unless carefully and securely j oined Would be liable to warp and loosen.

My present invention, which relates to the Construction of the coffin-lid, has for its object to provide the lid at its forward portion with a 50 removable panel of such Construction and attached to the lid in such improved manner that a lid may be simply and cheaply made, through which ready access may be had to the coi-pse. To this end my invention consists, primarily, in forming the coffin-lid with a rim that ex: tends around the entire body of the coffin, and that nay be securely fastened in place, the raised portion or top panel of the lid being adapted to engage with the rear edge of a removable panel that is formed suffi oiently broad to rest upon the rim and cover the opening therein, and is provided with a catch at its front end to detachably attach it to the rim.

My invention further consists in forming a 6 joint between the raised portion of the lid and the removable panel of irregular beveled outline, so as to form a secure connection between the parts at a very slight expense in manufacture.

My invention also consists in providing the coffin-lid with a name-plate panel that shall serve to hide in great neasure the joint between the fixed and removable panels of the lid, which joint in case of shrinkage would otherwise mar theappearance of the coffin.

In the drawings, A designates the rim of my improved lid, which rim extends around the entire body of the coffin, and will be securely screwed to the edges thereof When the corpse has been placed therein, or when the coifin is put together for transportation. Upon this rim is fixed the raised portion or top panel, B, which extends to about midway of the coftin, and has its front edge, 8 b, beveled and preferably of irregular Outline, as shown. With the beveled front edge of the top panel engages the rear beveled edge of the renovable panel G, which carries the glass C', that'may be protected by the cover 0 D, and is provided at its front end with asuitable catch, C that engages with the rim B of the lid. Thepanel G is formed enough broader than the opening of the rim to be supported by this rim without, however, extendingto its edge, where it would be liable to be struck and accidentally displaced. A name-plate panel, E, is fixed to the top panel, B, in such position that its front edge projects over the joint between the panels B and C, thus serv- IOO ing not only to hide in great measure this joint, but also, in case of any shrinkage of the panel and consequent loosening of the join-t, to more securely hold the removable-panel -in place. When the name-plate panel is used, as shown, the abutting edges of the panels B and O may be made square, the removable panel being held in place by means of the name-plate panel and the catch C The joint shown is, however, the preferred Construction, as the beveled edges 'hold the parts together securely, and the irregular shape of these edges guarCs against any lateral movement of the removable panel. By extending the rim around the entire body of the cofiin and form ing the panels in the manner shown not only 5 is cheapness of Construction Secured, but the rim serves also to firnly brace the body of the coffin, and thus lessen the danger of warping or of breakage in transportation. It is to be understood, of course, that variations in 3 the details of Construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for example, instead of the beveled joint between the panels, any equivalent form of joint may be substituted therefor.

s Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent, is-

1. In a cofiin, the combination, with the lidrim consisting of a simple wooden strip or strips adapted to be Secured to the edge of the cofiin, of afixed panel broader than the opening of said lid-rim and connected thereto, and a movable panel broader than the opening of the lid-rim and adapted to rest thereon, said fixed and removable panels being connected together, as described, and said removable panel being provided with a catch for engagement with the lid-rim, substantially as described.

2. In a. coffin, the combination of the main lid-rim extending around the entire body of the cofiin, the raised top panel fixed to said lid-rim and having a beveled front edge of irregular shape, and the removable panel formed broader than the opening of the lidrim and having its rear edge beveled and of irregular shape to engage with the edge of the raised panel 'and prevent lateral displacement, and a suitable cat-ch to fasten the removable panel to the lid-rim, substantially as described.

JOHN T. RICHARDS. W'itnesses:

GEO. P. FISEER, Jr., GRANVILLE W. BROWNING. 

